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WA scores outright win over Redbacks

A day after securing Justin Langer as coach, Western Australia notched its first Sheffield Shield victory of the season with a 110-run triumph over South Australia at the WACA Ground.

Chasing 355 for the win, the Redbacks were dismissed for 244 midway through the final session of day four despite fighting half-centuries from 18-year-old rising star Travis Head (95no) and veteran Michael Klinger (56).

Langer won't take charge of the Warriors until Saturday's one-day clash.

But his arrival has sparked a wave of optimism around WA cricket, with the former Test opener determined to get his hands dirty over the coming weeks as he attempts to rid the Warriors of their questionable culture.

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Langer would have liked some of what he saw against South Australia.

Opener Marcus Harris (114) and Mitch Marsh (73) made big scores in the first innings, while wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt posted a crucial 85 in the second dig to help WA reach 191 after they had earlier slumped to 6-28.

But it was the work of man-of-the-match Nathan Coulter-Nile that proved decisive in the final outcome.

Coulter-Nile made 52 off 52 balls in the first innings, and snared three wickets for the match in a solid all-round effort.

However, it was his first-innings run-out of Redbacks opener Phil Hughes for 92 that swung the game well and truly in WA's favour, giving the Warriors what turned out to be a match-winning first-innings lead of 163.

South Australia slumped to 6-158 in its second dig following the dismissals of big guns Hughes (26), Callum Ferguson (14), Klinger (56) and Dan Christian (4).

Klinger looked in ominous touch before being given out caught behind off the bowling of Coulter-Nile.

The former Victorian, who was found guilty of dissent earlier this month, wasn't happy with the decision, and momentarily stood his ground while giving the umpire a glare.

Redbacks captain Johan Botha (8 off 62 balls) dug in deep while Head did the bulk of the scoring as South Australia moved to 6-225.

But when Mitchell Johnson (3-52) finally found the edge of Botha shortly after tea, South Australia's resistance was broken as the tail meekly surrendered.

Head, who struck 11 fours and three sixes in his 178-ball stay, fought valiantly until the end, but ran out of partners.